Hebrews 6:6
Here is a fact that must be faced and dealt with, if we would be honest with the Word of God and honest with the souls of men. – Those who fall away are lost forever. But what does that mean? Be sure you understand the doctrine of Holy Scripture.
The Word of God tells us plainly and unmistakably that God’s elect shall not and cannot fall away and perish. True believers never cease to be true believers. Those to whom Christ gives eternal life shall never perish. Concerning these matters, the Word of God is crystal clear. If salvation is God’s work alone (and it is), then it is forever (Eccles. 3:14). The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. Eternal life is eternal life. The promise of grace and the immutability of our God assure us of the infallible and everlasting security of all who are the objects of his mercy, love, and grace in Christ (Mal. 3:6).
Yet, there are many who do fall away. Many who were once numbered among God’s elect in the house of God, thought to be true believers, even looked upon as examples of faith and faithfulness, have forsaken Christ and the gospel (John 6:66; 1 John 2:19). – “Remember Lot’s wife!” Those who do fall away are lost forever. They “crucify the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.”
What is this falling away?
What does the Holy Spirit mean by
those words -- “If they shall fall away?”
This is not talking about some specific act of sin. David’s adultery did not
separate him from the love of God in Christ. It is not even talking about the
sin of denying Christ. Peter did that; but he was not lost. This is not even
talking about doctrinal error, or even doctrinal error concerning vital issues.
All these things may be and are forgiven. Though God’s people do fall into
these grievous evils, our God lifts us up and sets us upon the Rock Christ
Jesus. So what is this fall that results in the eternal, unrecoverable ruin of
men’s souls? In the Word of God, I see
two things described in these terms.
1. To depart from the faith of the gospel is to fall away and perish forever (Gal. 5:1-4).
Those who have been enlightened to the truth of the gospel and then turn from it, for whatever reason, blaspheme the Spirit of God and fall away, and shall not be forgiven. “There is a sin unto death. I would not that you should pray for it.” That sin which brings eternal reprobation is described in Matthew 12:31-32. There the Lord Jesus Christ declares, "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
2. To forsake the assembly of God’s saints, the fellowship of the gospel, and the ministry of the Word, to abandon the worship of Christ is to fall away and be lost forever (Heb. 10:25-31; 1 Pet. 2:20-21).
There are many, I fear, who tenaciously hold to and defend the doctrine of Christ who have fallen away and abandoned Christ altogether. They have no interest in the kingdom of God, no commitment to the cause of God, no fellowship with the people of God, and no concern for the glory of God. They have fallen away. In forsaking the worship of God, they have fallen away.
The first step toward total apostasy is the neglect of public worship. When men and women begin to find comfortable excuses for neglecting the assembly of God’s saints, I tremble for them. By their willful neglect of public worship they declare to all who observe them that the ministry of the Word, the fellowship of God’s saints, the songs of Zion, and the praises of our God are really unimportant. If that which they declare by their actions is, indeed, a declaration of their hearts, such neglecters of divine worship are apostate.
Let us never look upon the assembly of God’s saints lightly, or treat it as a contemptible thing, a thing to be despised. To absent yourself from the house of God is to choose something else above the worship of God. To neglect the worship of God’s church is to neglect the worship of God. To abandon the church of God is to abandon God.
Something I’ve Never Seen
Let me tell you something I have never seen. In thirty years of pastoral experience, I have never seen this happen. I have seen believing men and women recovered from falls into many evils. I have seen some who, like Peter, after their fall, were stronger and more faithful than ever. But this I have never seen. – I have never seen a man or woman willingly walk away from and abandon the worship of God recover! I have seen many, apparently trying to silence some sting of conscience, come back for a while; but I have never seen it last. I have never yet seen a man or woman willingly walk away from and abandon the worship of God recover!